Pan Macmillan has unveiled the Independent Bookshop Innovation Award, which will give seven indie bookshops in the U.K. and Ireland £1,750 (about $2,440) each "to launch a 'new and innovative project' in their store, with those focusing on community outreach or supporting new readers particularly encouraged," the Bookseller reported.
Qualified booksellers may submit a project for consideration that is either based in-store or in conjunction with a local community partner, and while it can be specific to a particular genre, it must be related to books. Submissions for the award are now open, with a May 18 deadline. A shortlist of stores will be announced June 15, and winners named September 10 during the Booksellers Association Conference in Birmingham.
"Macmillan turns 175 this year and we want to commemorate in particular the entrepreneurial spirit of brothers Daniel and Alexander Macmillan, who founded the business in 1843 by opening their own bookshop, before becoming publishers," said Pan Mac managing director Anthony Forbes Watson. "Macmillan's oldest partnership is with booksellers and we will acknowledge this special bond with the launch of the Macmillan 175 Independent Bookshop Innovation prize, which celebrates our bookselling partners today, who continue to help us find new ways to bring authors and readers together."